WHO WE ARE

Chabad Sunset Park is a new local "spiritual startup" aiming to create an inclusive and vibrant Jewish community within the Sunset Park and Greenwood Heights neighborhoods.

We are creating a welcoming community for all Jews, regardless of background, affiliation, prior knowledge or level of observance.

We host educational classes and discussions, Holiday programs, Shabbat dinners and more.

Our programs are designed to make everyone feel engaged and comfortable. Our goal is to bring a sense of community and meaning in the lives of anyone who joins. We hope you join us and look forward to connecting with you soon!  

Rabbi Yanky & Chana Hecht 

Both born and raised to Chabad families, Yanky & Chana spent their childhood and young adult lives assisting their parents in their community and social works.

Yanky was born and raised in Park Slope and assisted his parents Rabbi Shimon and Sarah Hecht, the founders of Chabad of Brownstone Brooklyn in their communal work. Chana was born and raised in Hunterdon County, New Jersey and assisted her parents, Rabbi Eli and Rachel Kornfeld in establishing a flourishing Jewish community in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.

Both dedicated to strengthening Jewish identity and enhancing community life, Chana co-directed community programs for Jewish life in Hunterdon County, including Spreading Smiles - a lead social service for seniors, and has been in lead roles in multiple Jewish day camps across the US. Yanky has been involved in arranging Jewish outreach programs in countries across the globe, including Mexico, Spain, Belgium, Israel, and Italy. 

Chana and Yanky seek to have an open home in Sunset Park welcoming all Jews, regardless of background, affiliation, prior knowledge or level of observance. Both like to play guitar and enjoy going on hikes, but most of all enjoy meeting new people, connecting with others, and helping those who could use a hand. 

In addition to directing Chabad of Sunset Park, Chana oversees programs and initiatives for the Jewish student body at NYU. Yanky serves as Program Coordinator of the Released Time Jewish Hour program, the largest provider of Jewish education for children  who attend Public Schools across NYC.

Yanky received his Rabbinical ordination at the West Coast Rabbinical Seminary in Los Angeles, California in 2019.

Chana and Yanky married in April 2024 and are seeking a full time residence in Sunset Park to serve the community.


ABOUT CHABAD LUBAVITCH

The Philosophy

Chabad-Lubavitch is a philosophy, a movement, and an organization. It is considered to be the most dynamic force in Jewish life today.

The word “Chabad” is a Hebrew acronym for the three intellectual faculties of chochmah—wisdom, binah—comprehension and da’at—knowledge. The movement’s system of Jewish religious philosophy, teaches understanding and recognition of the Creator, the role and purpose of creation, and the importance and unique mission of each creature. This philosophy guides a person to refine and govern his or her every act and feeling through wisdom, comprehension and knowledge.

The word “Lubavitch” is the name of the town in White Russia where the movement was based for more than a century. Appropriately, the word Lubavitch in Russian means the “city of brotherly love.” The name Lubavitch conveys the essence of the responsibility and love engendered by the Chabad philosophy toward every single Jew.

The Movement

Following its inception 250 years ago, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement—a branch of Hasidism—swept through Russia and spread in surrounding countries as well. It provided scholars with answers that eluded them, and simple farmers with a love that had been denied them. Eventually the philosophy of Chabad-Lubavitch and its adherents reached almost every corner of the world and affected almost every facet of Jewish life.

The Leadership

The movement is guided by the teachings of its seven leaders (“Rebbes”), beginning with Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi of righteous memory (1745–1812). These leaders expounded upon the most refined and delicate aspects of Jewish mysticism, creating a corpus of study thousands of books strong. They personified the age-old Biblical qualities of piety and leadership. And they concerned themselves not only with Chabad-Lubavitch, but with the totality of Jewish life, spiritual and physical. No person or detail was too small or insignificant for their love and dedication.

In our generation, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of righteous memory (1902–1994), known simply as “the Rebbe,” guided post-holocaust Jewry to safety from the ravages of that devastation.

The Organization

The origins of today’s Chabad organization can be traced to the early 1940s, when the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn of righteous memory (1880–1950), appointed his son-in-law and later successor, Rabbi Menachem Mendel, to head the newly founded educational and social service arms of the movement.

Today over 5,000 full-time emissary families (2,000 in the United States) direct more than 3,500 Jewish institutions dedicated to the welfare of the Jewish people worldwide.